U.s. Denies Visas To Cuban Band

May 04, 1989|By Constanza Montana.

Members of a Cuban band, whose invitation to appear here at a city-sponsored Latin music festival sparked a controversy, have been denied visas by the U.S. State Department on the grounds the musicians are agents of the Cuban government, it was announced Wednesday.

Anti-Castro Cubans vowed to prevent the 14-piece Orquesta Aragon from appearing June 3 and 4 at the Viva Chicago festival in Grant Park, contending the band represents the communist regime of their arch-enemy, Fidel Castro.

``Under the Immigration and Nationality Act the president has the authority to bar certain categories of people`` including Cuban nationals who are officers or employees of the Cuban government, said Frances Jones, a spokeswoman for the State Department. ``They (band members) fall under this category,`` she said.

The visa denial surprised Joan Harris, head of the city`s Department of Cultural Affairs and Michael Scott, director of the Office of Special Events, which is arranging the event.

``Nobody has contacted our office to say anything,`` Harris said. She claimed that although Orquesta Aragon ``must work the same way the Russians do, they`re state supported,`` the State Department action, ``makes it sound as if they`re double agents when in fact they`re musicians working in a communist country.``

Scott, who has been besieged by angry Cubans living in Chicago, threatening to boycott the event if Orquesta Aragon appeared, chuckled when informed of the visa denial. He declined further comment because his office had not received official confirmation of the State Department action.

U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D., Ill.) has asked for a review of the visa denial on behalf of the Chicago Commission on Latino Affairs, according to David Carle, a Simon spokesman. ``This very group visited the United States on earlier occasions and other cultural groups (from Cuba) have visited Chicago,`` Carle said.

Maria Torres, a professor at De Paul University, also expressed hope that the visa denial could be overturned. ``My understanding is (Secretary of State) Jim Baker has been a very practical negotiator and diplomat,`` she said. ``I suspect holdovers from the Reagan administration are acting with outmoded policy orientation. I wouldn`t close the book on this.``

Others viewed the visa denial as a complete victory. ``Naturally, I`m happy that they are not coming,`` said Luis Era, president of La Junta Patriotica Cubana, a Cuban organization. ``They don`t belong here.``

Era and other Cubans in Chicago vigorously lobbied Scott, Harris and sponsors of the festival to cancel the appearance of Orquesta Aragon.

Susan Borges, a systems programmer who worked as an attorney in Cuba, said she contacted the U.S. Treasury Department in March to complain that the city`s arrangement with the band was a violation of the country`s trade embargo with Cuba. The Treasury Department then asked the State Department to look into the situation, she said.

``They`re agents, even if they don`t know they`re agents,`` Borges said. ``They give the impression that what they bring is art. What they bring is communism.``

Other problems surrounding the music festival in which members of all Hispanic cultures were invited to participate, still remain. Members of the Puerto Rican parade committee are demanding a rescheduling of Viva Chicago because a festival scheduled in connection with the parade, is to be held in Humboldt Park June 6.

``Some of the sponsors are holding back on us, said Daniel Ramos, president of the parade group. ``I`m afraid its because Viva Chicago is sending them all kinds of proposals. Whoever is promoting it, they didn`t think first.``

Harris denied that organizers of the Viva Chicago festival were trying to lure any sponsors away from the Puerto Rican Day Parade. She claimed that anyone who would be interested in Viva Chicago would be ``new money . . .``

Scott said that although no major sponsors have given a firm commitment to Viva Chicago, several major companies indicated interest, ``contingent on the resolution of this issue,`` referring to the controversy surrounding Orquesta Aragon.